Hi, in a way I still don't fully believe in the Gods, even though I know the truth, even though I can already feel my energy, which was surprising to me, even though I've read a lot about it, and know that this is the truth, I still feel like I can't fully believe and trust, surrender body and soul.
The Gods reality shock
1 min to readThis is the targeted message.
You are not required to immediately give 100% trust, especially not blind surrender. Yes, we should develop our relationships with the Gods, but this is a process that occurs over time and with consent, not due to pressure.
What you can do is start to isolate a few reasons why you may not trust them. Then, you can express this in prayer to the God, like after you finish a ritual to them. After, one can experience that they begin to find a solution to their concern. Maybe this delves into psychology one has towards parents or partners. It can also involve social concerns and how one views mentors or other hierarchy-based relationships.
One may hold internal values and prerequisites that can delay full trust. Through spiritual work and interaction with the Gods, one can shape these into better directions. What this means in practice can be personal.
When you imagine yourself interacting with a God, what emotions or motivations do you feel? What do you expect or what you think you may have to provide first? All of these answers gives clues into your relationship capacity.
Hello! I'm wondering what you would characterise as being able to 'trust/fully believe' or 'surrender body and soul'? Why not approach this in an open and curious way like getting to know and explore, rather than having expectations about what a trusting relationship with the Gods should be.
While trust is something that comes with more experiences in time, doubts which hinder the development of trust may also stem from needing to deprogram from false religions, there is a guide here which can help you: Freeing the Mind from Christianity and Islam
To believe/trust in the sense of not doubting their power or doubting that when I need their help they will help me, well at least until I am able to help myself, I believe that when I said "that I don't believe" I say this because I can't feel their presence.
To surrender body and soul is to fully surrender to the practice, the rituals, to helping the temple, whatever is needed, it is to develop myself, I feel that I still don't take it as seriously as I should.
Yes, I still believe there are elements of false religion; I'm still in the process of being able to enter a trance state
Thank you for replying/helping me.
To believe/trust in the sense of not doubting their power or doubting that when I need their help they will help me, well at least until I am able to help myself, I believe that when I said "that I don't believe" I say this because I can't feel their presence.
To surrender body and soul is to fully surrender to the practice, the rituals, to helping the temple, whatever is needed, it is to develop myself, I feel that I still don't take it as seriously as I should.
I understand, thank you for clarifying what you mean!
I will say that I think my point still stand and you shouldn't place too much pressure on yourself at this point. This, in my view, is a natural progression of advancement in the path and you have the will to do it. It sounds to me like you are still finding your footing with meditation, the information on the site and becoming accustomed to reaching out to the Gods in ways that esteemed Head Guardian has listed, which are very effective and also some great ways to come to 'know thyself'. I think you are on the right track by wanting to develop yourself (as you said above, you believe you "should") in this way, too. Doing such inner psychological observation work to evolve as individuals is as much a part of the path as everything spiritual. It can help you question your assumptions, approach things with a more open mind, as you reflect on why you feel the ways that you do. We are often subconsciously closed off or resistant for a reason like trauma or unknowingly preferring old modes of thinking and feeling that are comfortable. I also believe this Awareness Meditation is very helpful with guiding your self observation daily which is important for advancement: The Pythagorean Day Meditation
Advancing in Zevism to achieve all you've listed is still a part of the developing full human life, never separate from it.
Understanding the materials, being active in the community, having life experiences, putting everything into practice and putting effort into deep study will assist you, as you will come to see that what you can have a religious faith in can also be something that makes academic and life sense as you advance in the path. I like to read about the Zevist Personalities to remind myself of this.
Also, if believing requires you to have experiences with the Gods and feel Their presence, then we have to do our part in learning about Them and most importantly we have to reach out. There is a great series on the ToZ about Communion with the Gods, in the middle of this webpage: The Original Gods & Daemons.
I particularly recommend 'What Connects You & Disconnects You With The Gods' so much! That page in particular lists some precise factors that are decisive in communication with the Gods.
Advancement takes time, with your determination, you will definitely get there!
VIII. The Blessing
To the soul who is tired, to the soul who is convinced something is wrong, to the soul who has watched the others bloom and felt itself left behind: I bless you.
I bless your patience. I bless your wait. I bless the slow underground work that no one sees yet. I bless the days that look empty and are actually full. I bless the years that look stalled and are actually constructing the root system that will hold a tree for centuries.
I bless your readiness to act when the hour comes. I bless the eye that watches for kairos. I bless the hand that knows when to wait and when to throw the rope. I bless the courage to set sail in imperfect weather, because perfect weather is never coming.
I bless the work that will flower in your own lifetime, and I bless the work that will flower long after you are gone. Both are precious. Both are honoured. The Gods measure your life by the seeds you planted, the gardens you tended, the rhythms you respected, the kairos you recognised, not by what flowered before you closed your eyes.
All flowers and all people will bloom at their own time. Yours is coming. The Gods who shaped you have not forgotten you. The cosmos is keeping its time, and the time it is keeping includes the hour of your opening.
Wait without bitterness. Watch with attention. Set sail when the wind comes. Bloom when the morning has chosen.
Hail Zeus. Hail the Gods who made the seasons. Hail the soul that holds its dignity through the long waiting.
Written in the service of Zeus and for the comfort of those who wait.
High Priest Zevios Metathronos
[SOURCE: [/B]All Flowers Bloom at Their Own Time]